Method and apparatus for management of multi-carrier communications in a wireless communication system

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus manages resources in a wireless communication system by transmitting a multi-carrier switch command message to an access terminal instructing the access terminal to switch between a diversity mode where each antenna module of a plurality antenna modules receives a single carrier signal transmitted at a single carrier frequency and a multi-carrier mode where a first antenna module of the plurality antenna modules receives a first multi-carrier signal transmitted at a first carrier frequency and a second antenna module receives a second multi-carrier signals transmitted at a second carrier frequency.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §119

The present Application for Patent claims priority to ProvisionalApplication No. 60/668,437 entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECEIVERCONTROL IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM” filed Apr. 4, 2005, andassigned to the assignee hereof and hereby expressly incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates generally to cellular communicationsystems, and more specifically, to a method and apparatus for managingmulti-carrier communications.

2. Background

Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) cellular communicationsystems provide communication services to mobile and portable devicesthrough an arrangement of base stations. In GSM systems, frames oftimeslots and radio blocks are transmitted and received at the mobilestation using time division multiplexing. Although GSM systemsoriginally provided voice communication services, GSM systems haveevolved to provide data communication services as well. Standards suchas general packet radio service (GPRS) and Enhanced Data for GlobalEvolution (EDGE) further define the protocols for data communicationwithin GSM based systems. The access terminals, also sometimes referredto as mobile devices, portable devices and by other names, communicateover channels in the uplink and the downlink directions. In order toincrease performance, some access terminals utilize receive diversitytechniques where two or more antennas are used to receive signalstransmitted on a single channel. Due to differences between the antennassuch as, for example, antenna position, at least some of the incomingsignals can be received at a higher quality. For example, due tomulti-fading characteristics of the communication path, multiple signalsmay destructively combine at one antenna and constructively combine atanother antenna. By using receive diversity, however, chances increaseto receive a higher quality signal. In some receiver diversity cases thesignals from multiple antennas are combined to increase the signalquality.

As GSM systems evolve to providing increased data and voice services,the need for bandwidth and system capacity increases. In a multi-carriercommunication system, signals are transmitted using multiple channels atdifferent carrier frequencies. The receiver simultaneously receives themultiple channels through multiple antennas resulting in an increasedoverall bandwidth. Conventional systems do not include a method forutilizing multiple antennas for diversity and multi-channelcommunications in a single access terminal.

Therefore, there is need for an apparatus and method for managingmulti-carrier communication in a GSM communication system.

SUMMARY

One embodiment is a transmitter configured to transmit a message to anaccess terminal instructing the access terminal to switch between adiversity mode where each antenna module of a plurality antenna modulesreceives a single carrier signal transmitted at a single carrierfrequency and a multi-carrier mode where a first antenna module of theplurality antenna modules receives a first multi-carrier signaltransmitted at a first carrier frequency and a second antenna modulereceives a second multi-carrier signals transmitted at a second carrierfrequency.

Another embodiment is a method for managing communications in acommunication system, the method comprising transmitting a message to anaccess terminal instructing the access terminal to switch between adiversity mode where each antenna module of a plurality antenna modulesreceives a single carrier signal transmitted at a single carrierfrequency and a multi-carrier mode where a first antenna module of theplurality antenna modules receives a first multi-carrier signaltransmitted at a first carrier frequency and a second antenna modulereceives a second multi-carrier signals transmitted at a second carrierfrequency.

Yet another embodiment is an access terminal in a wireless communicationsystem, the access terminal configured to respond to a message, themessage instructing the access terminal to switch between a diversitymode where each antenna module of a plurality antenna modules receives asingle carrier signal transmitted at a single carrier frequency and amulti-carrier mode where a first antenna module of the plurality antennamodules receives a first multi-carrier signal transmitted at a firstcarrier frequency and a second antenna module receives a secondmulti-carrier signals transmitted at a second carrier frequency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an access terminal communicating with abase station in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of signaling messages exchanged between theGSM network and the access terminal in accordance with the exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a capabilities message in accordance withthe exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a multi-carrier switch command message inaccordance with the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a RXDIV switch command message inaccordance with the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method pf managing multi-carriercommunication in a wireless communication system in accordance with theexemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a GSM communication system 100 inaccordance with the exemplary embodiment of the invention. The word“exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, orillustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary”,therefore, is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other embodiments. The various functions andoperations of the blocks described with reference to the GSM system 100may be implemented in any number of devices, circuits, or elements. Twoor more of the functional blocks may be integrated in a single deviceand the functions described as performed in any single device may beimplemented over several devices in some circumstances. Although the GSMsystem 100 includes features, messages and other aspects currentlyundefined by GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN) standards, the GSMsystem 100 otherwise operates in accordance with GERAN communicationtechniques in the exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, the exemplaryembodiment provides an example of changes to the current GERANcommunication standard.

The GSM system 100 includes a GSM network 114 that providescommunication services to a plurality of access terminals 102. An accessterminal 102 may be any of several types of devices that facilitate anycombination of voice and/or data communication with the GSM network 114.The access terminals 102, sometimes referred to as handsets, mobilestations (MS), wireless communication devices and other terms, includedevices such as, for example, cellular phones and wireless personaldigital assistants (PDAs). The GSM network 114 includes a plurality ofbase stations 104 that exchange wireless signals with the accessterminals 102 as well as other infrastructure, databases, and backhaul.The GSM network 114 manages resources by controlling the communicationsof the access terminals using command and control messages in accordancewith a communication protocol often defined by a standard protocol. Basestations 104 with the GSM network 114 include transmitters fortransmitting voice, data and signaling messages to the access terminals102. Receivers within the base stations 104 receive voice, data andsignaling messages transmitted from the access terminals 102.

Signals transmitted by one or more base stations 104 in the GSM network114 are received by a receiver 116 through an antenna system 120 wherethe antenna system 120 includes at least one antenna 106, 108. One ormore access terminals 102 may include antenna systems 102 with multipleantennas 106, 108. An access terminal 102 with multiple antennas 106,108 may utilize receive diversity techniques to improve receiverperformance. During receive diversity operation, multiple antennas 106,108 are tuned to the same carrier frequency to receive multiple versionsof a transmitted signal. Performance is improved where additionalinformation is obtained from signals received through an additionalantenna or from a combination of signals received from more than oneantenna 106, 108. In some circumstances, the carrier frequency for thereceived signal may change over the course of a transmission. Such asituation occurs where frequency hopping is utilized, for example, inwhich case the carrier frequency a signal is transmitted upon changes ona per TDMA frame basis, following a pre-determined sequence. Themultiple antennas 106, 108, therefore, remain tuned to the same signaland follow the “hopping” carrier frequency.

As mentioned above, multi-carrier communication provides a technique forincreasing the peak data rate of downlink communication in an existingGERAN infrastructure. In a multi-carrier mode, at least two antennas106, 108 receive different signals at different carrier frequencies. Byusing multiple carrier signals, more bandwidth is used for receivinginformation resulting in increased reception data rates at the accessterminal 102.

The access terminal 102 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment iscapable of operating in a receive diversity (RXDIV) mode and within amulti-carrier mode. The access terminal 102 includes an antenna system120 that includes a plurality of antennas 106, 108. The antenna system120 includes a first antenna 106 and a second antenna 108 in theexemplary embodiment. The multi-carrier and RXDIV receiver 116 includesappropriate hardware, software, and/or firmware for receiving multipleversions of a signal through at least two antennas 106, 108 in the RXDIVmode. Further, the receiver 116 is capable of receiving a first signal110 at a first carrier frequency (C1) through one of the antennas 106and a second signal 112 at a second carrier frequency (C2) through theother antenna 108.

The controller 118 is any combination of hardware, software and/orfirmware configured to perform the functions described herein as well asfacilitating the overall functionality of the access terminal. Thecontroller 118 may include any number and combination of circuitry,electrical devices, memory and processing devices where the processingdevices may include a single processor, microprocessor, processorarrangement, or logical gates. At least portions of the controller 118may be implemented using discrete components, as part of integratedcircuit, or as part of an application specific integrated circuit(ASIC). In the exemplary embodiment, software and firmware running on aprocessor perform the control functions described herein. Based oninstructions received from the GSM network 114, the controller 118generates control signals to configure the receiver 116. In addition toconfiguring hardware and invoking code, the controller 118 generatesresponse, acknowledgement, and request messages in accordance with theprotocol of the GSM system 100.

In the exemplary embodiment, the access terminal 102 remains in thereceive diversity mode as a default configuration. In response to amulti-carrier switch command message received from the GSM network 114,the access terminal switches to the multi-carrier mode. The accessterminal switches back to the receive diversity mode in response to aRXDIV switch command message received from the GSM network 114. When themulti-carrier switch command message is received, the access terminal102 generates the appropriate control signals and configures thereceiver 116 to receive a first signal 110 at a first carrier frequencythrough the first antenna 106 and to receive a second signal 112 at asecond carrier frequency through the second antenna 108. In theexemplary embodiment, the receiver includes a receiver branch connectedto each antenna 106, 108 allowing each receiver branch to be tuned to adifferent carrier frequency. An example of a suitable receiver branchincludes one or more mixers for frequency shifting the incoming signalto the desired intermediate frequency or to baseband by mixing theincoming signal with an appropriate mixing signal. The frequency shiftedsignal is further processed and demodulated by other receiver 116components. In some circumstances, each receiver branch may includefilters in addition to common filters shared by multiple receiverbranches. Each receiver branch is responsive to control signals to tunean indicated carrier frequency. During the receive diversity mode, thereceiver branches are tuned to the same frequency allowing multipleversions of a single signal to be received. During the multi-carriermode at least one of the receiver branches is tuned to different carrierfrequency than one other receiver branch. Accordingly, the receiver 116is capable of tuning multiple receiver branches to a single carrierfrequency during the receive diversity mode and tuning the receiverbranches to different carrier frequencies during the multi-carrier modein response to the controller. Other techniques may be used in thereceiver 116 in some circumstances to facilitate the multi-carrier anddiversity capabilities. Although the description herein is limited totwo antennas and two carriers, the discussion can be applied to anyconfiguration including m diversity branches and n carriers where n≦m.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of signaling messages 202-212 exchangedbetween the GSM network 114 and the access terminal 102 in accordancewith the exemplary embodiment. The signaling messages 202-212 may beincorporated into conventional signaling messages currently defined inGERAN specifications or may be implemented as additional messages to theGERAN specifications where portions of the messages 202-212 may beimplemented over multiple conventional signaling messages and where twoor more messages 202-212 may be implemented into single message.

In an exemplary embodiment, the GSM network 214 is informed by defaultof the multi-carrier and receive diversity capabilities of an accessterminal 102. The GSM network 214 is informed of the multi-carrier andreceive diversity capabilities of an access terminal 102 when the accessterminal sends a capabilities message 204 indicating at least thereceive diversity and multi-carrier capabilities of the access terminal.The capabilities message 204 is described in further detail below withreference to FIG. 3.

If the access terminal has RXDIV capabilities and multi-carriercapabilities, the GSM network manages resources by instructing theaccess terminal to switch between the RXDIV mode and the multi-carriermode. The determination to switch may be based on any of several factorssuch as, for example, available bandwidth, the amount of data that willbe received by the access terminal, the number of other nearby accessterminals, data rates of other access terminals, the capabilities ofother access terminals in the area, or any other reason depending onnetwork algorithms.

The GSM network transmits a multi-carrier switch command 206 to instructthe access terminal to switch from the receive diversity mode to themulti-carrier mode. An example of a suitable multi-carrier switchcommand 206 includes a modification of a message in accordance with theGERAN specification such as Packet Downlink Assignment, Packet TimeslotReconfigure, or similar messages

After the access terminal successfully completes the switch fromreceiver diversity mode to the multi-carrier mode, the access terminalmay transmit a switch acknowledgment message 208 indicating the switchwas successful. An example of a suitable acknowledgment message 208includes a message in accordance with the existing GERAN specificationsuch as the Packet Downlink Acknowledgement message. In somecircumstances, no acknowledgement is sent.

When the GSM network determines that the access terminal should bereturned to receive diversity mode, the GSM network transmits a RXDUVswitch command 210. An example of a suitable RXDIV switch command 206includes a modification or an extension of a message in accordance withthe existing GERAN specification such as Packet Downlink Assignment,Packet Timeslot Reconfigure, or similar messages

The access terminal may transmit a switch acknowledgement message 212indicating that the switch from the multi-carrier mode to the receivediversity mode was successful. In some circumstances, no acknowledgementis sent.

FIG. 3 is block diagram of a capabilities message 204 in accordance withthe exemplary embodiment. As explained above, the access terminaltransmits the capabilities message 204 indicating the multi-carrier andreceive diversity capabilities. The capabilities message 204 may includea RXDIV indicator 302 and a multi-carrier indicator 304. In theexemplary embodiment, the capabilities message 204 includes a one bitRXDIV indicator 203 and a one bit multi-carrier indicator 304 as well asother indicators 306 describing the other capabilities of the accessterminal. Therefore, in the exemplary embodiment, a single bit indicateswhether the access terminal has receive diversity capability and asingle bit indicates whether the access terminal has multi-carriercapability. In some circumstances, the indicators may include multiplebits to convey additional information. An example of a suitablecapabilities message 204 includes a message in accordance with the MSRadio Access Capabilities message where bits are received or added tothe current format to convey the RXDIV and multi-carrier capabilities.In some circumstances, only a one bit multi-carrier indicator 304 isincluded in the capabilities message 204, with the assumption that allmobile terminals capable of multi-carrier are also implicitly capable ofRXDIV.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a multi-carrier switch command message 206in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. The multi-carrier switchcommand message 206 at least includes an instruction indicting that theaccess terminal should switch to the multi-carrier mode. In theexemplary embodiment, the multi-carrier switch command message 206includes a multi-carrier switch indicator 402, a multi-carrier channelindicator 404 and other commands related to the timeslot configurationsof the multiple carriers to which the terminal is assigned. An exampleof such a command includes a modification or extension of a message inaccordance with the existing GERAN specification such as the PacketDownlink Assignment message or the Packet Timeslot Reconfigure message,or similar messages.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a RXDIV switch command message 210 inaccordance with the exemplary embodiment. The RXDIV switch commandmessage 210 at least includes an instruction indicting that the accessterminal should switch to the receive diversity mode. In the exemplaryembodiment, the RXDIV switch command message 210 includes a RXDIV switchindicator 502, a single carrier channel indicator 504 and other commandsrelated to the timeslot configurations of the single carrier to whichthe terminal is assigned. An example of such command includes amodification or extension of a message in accordance with the existingGERAN specification such as the Packet Downlink Assignment message orthe Packet Timeslot Reconfigure message, or similar messages. The singlecarrier channel indicator 504 indicates the single channel that will beused for transmitting signals to the access terminal.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method managing multi-carrier communicationsin a wireless communication system in accordance with the exemplaryembodiment of the invention. The method may be performed using anycombination of hardware, software and/or firmware. In the exemplaryembodiment the method is performed in a base station or other networkentity 104 within the GSM network 114. Although the method is discussedwith reference to a single access terminal 102, the method issimultaneously performed for any number of access terminals 102communicating within the GSM network 114.

At step 602, the base station 104 receives the capabilities message 204indicating at least the receive diversity and multi-carrier capabilitiesof the access terminal 102.

At step 604, it is determined whether the access terminal 102 hasmulti-carrier capabilities. If the access terminal 102 does not havemulti-carrier capabilities, the multi-carrier management for theparticular access terminal 102 ends and the method proceeds to step 606.Otherwise, the method continues at step 608.

At step 608, it is determined whether the access terminal 102 should beswitched to the multi-carrier mode. As discussed above, the accessterminal 102 defaults to the receive diversity mode in the exemplaryembodiment and therefore is only switched to multi-carrier mode asdetermined by the GSM network 114. The decision may be based on anynumber of factors and depends on the particular implementation of theGSM system and system capabilities. The determination to switch may bebased on any of several factors such as, for example, availablebandwidth, the amount of data that will be received by the accessterminal 102, the number of other nearby access terminals (102), datarates of other access terminals (102), the capabilities of other accessterminals (102) in the area, or any other reason depending on networkalgorithms. If it is determined that the access terminal 102 shouldremain in the receive diversity (RXDIV), the method returns the step 608to continue monitoring system. If it is determined that the accessterminal 102 should be switched to the multi-carrier mode, the methodcontinues at step 610.

At step 610, the multi-carrier switch command message 206 is transmittedto the access terminal 102. In the exemplary embodiment, themulti-carrier switch command message 206 is transmitted by a transmitterin the base station 104.

At step 612, the switch acknowledgment 208 message is received from theaccess terminal. In the exemplary embodiment, the switch acknowledgmentmessage 208 is received through a receiver in the base station 104. Thebase station 104 engages in a retransmission or resolution procedure ifthe acknowledgement message 208 is not received.

At step 614, it is determined whether the access terminal 102 should beswitched to the single carrier receiver diversity mode. If the GSMnetwork 114 determines the access terminal should be switched to RXDIVmode for efficient resource allocation or other reasons, the methodcontinues at step 616. Otherwise, the method returns to step 614 tocontinue monitoring the system 100.

At step 616, the RXDIV switch command message 210 is transmitted to theaccess terminal. As discussed above, the RXDIV switch command message210 includes a single carrier channel indicator 504 in the exemplaryembodiment.

At step 618, a switch acknowledgement message 212 indicating that theswitch from the multi-carrier mode to the receive diversity mode wassuccessful is received. The base station 104 engages in a retransmissionor resolution procedure if the acknowledgement message 208 is notreceived. The method then returns to step 608 to monitor the system todetermine is the access terminal 102 should be switched to themulti-carrier mode. In some circumstances, acknowledgment messages maynot be used.

Those of skill in the art would understand that information and signalsmay be represented using any of a variety of different technologies andtechniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information,signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout theabove description may be represented by voltages, currents,electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields orparticles, or any combination thereof.

Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrativelogical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described inconnection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented aselectronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. Toclearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software,various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and stepshave been described above generally in terms of their functionality.Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or softwaredepends upon the particular application and design constraints imposedon the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the describedfunctionality in varying ways for each particular application, but suchimplementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing adeparture from the scope of the present invention.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedor performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signalprocessor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device,discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with theembodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in asoftware module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two.A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory,EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, aCD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. Anexemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processorcan read information from, and write information to, the storage medium.In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor.The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC mayreside in a user terminal. In the alternative, the processor and thestorage medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presentinvention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to beaccorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein.

1. A base station comprising: a receiver configured to receive acapabilities message from an access terminal indicating whether theaccess terminal is capable of multi-carrier communication; and atransmitter configured to transmit a switch command message to theaccess terminal when the capabilities message indicates that the accessterminal is capable of multi-carrier communication, the switch commandmessage instructing the access terminal to switch between a diversitymode where each antenna module of a plurality of antenna modulesreceives a single carrier signal transmitted at a single carrierfrequency and a multi-carrier mode where a first antenna module of theplurality of antenna modules receives a first multi-carrier signaltransmitted at a first carrier frequency and a second antenna modulereceives a second multi-carrier signal transmitted at a second carrierfrequency, wherein the switch command message is a multi-carrier switchcommand message comprising a multi-carrier switch indicator instructingthe access terminal to switch to the multi-carrier mode, wherein themulti-carrier switch command message further comprises a multi-carrierchannel indicator assigning channels to the access terminal, and whereinthe multi-carrier switch command message is a modified Packet DownlinkAssignment message in accordance with a Global System for MobileCommunication (GSM) Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE) RadioAccess Network (GERAN) standard protocol.
 2. The base station inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to receive aswitch acknowledgment message indicating the access terminal has beensuccessfully configured to operate in the multi-carrier mode.
 3. Thebase station of claim 2, wherein the transmitter retransmits the switchcommand message if the switch acknowledgement message is not receivedwithin a predetermined time after transmitting the switch commandmessage.
 4. A base station comprising: a receiver configured to receivea capabilities message from an access terminal indicating whether theaccess terminal is capable of multi-carrier communication; and atransmitter configured to transmit a switch command message to theaccess terminal when the capabilities message indicates that the accessterminal is capable of multi-carrier communication, the switch commandmessage instructing the access terminal to switch between a receivediversity mode where each antenna module of a plurality of antennamodules receives a single carrier signal transmitted at a single carrierfrequency and a multi-carrier mode where a first antenna module of theplurality of antenna modules receives a first multi-carrier signaltransmitted at a first carrier frequency and a second antenna modulereceives a second multi-carrier signal transmitted at a second carrierfrequency, wherein the switch command message is a receive diversity(RXDIV) switch command message comprising a RXDIV switch indicatorinstructing the access terminal to switch to the receive diversity mode,wherein the RXDIV switch command message further comprises a singlecarrier channel indicator assigning a single carrier channel to theaccess terminal, and wherein the RXDIV switch command message is amodified Packet Downlink Assignment message in accordance with a GlobalSystem for Mobile Communication (GSM) Enhanced Data for Global Evolution(EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN) standard protocol.
 5. The basestation of claim 4, wherein the receiver receives a switchacknowledgement message from the access terminal indicating that theaccess terminal has switched to the receive diversity mode.
 6. The basestation of claim 5, wherein the transmitter retransmits the switchcommand message if the switch acknowledgement message is not receivedwithin a predetermined time after transmitting the switch commandmessage.
 7. A method for managing communications in a communicationsystem, the method comprising: receiving a capabilities message from anaccess terminal indicating whether the access terminal is capable ofmulti-carrier communication; and transmitting a switch command messageto the access terminal when the capabilities message indicates that theaccess terminal is capable of multi-carrier communication, the switchcommand message instructing the access terminal to switch between adiversity mode where each antenna module of a plurality of antennamodules receives a single carrier signal transmitted at a single carrierfrequency and a multi-carrier mode where a first antenna module of theplurality of antenna modules receives a first multi-carrier signaltransmitted at a first carrier frequency and a second antenna modulereceives a second multi-carrier signal transmitted at a second carrierfrequency, wherein the switch command message is a multi-carrier switchcommand message comprising a multi-carrier switch indicator instructingthe access terminal to switch to the multi-carrier mode, wherein themulti-carrier switch command message further comprises a multi-carrierchannel indicator assigning channels to the access terminal, and whereinthe multi-carrier switch command message is a modified Packet DownlinkAssignment message in accordance with a Global System for MobileCommunication (GSM) Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE) RadioAccess Network (GERAN) standard protocol.
 8. The method of claim 7,further comprising: receiving a switch acknowledgment message indicatingthe access terminal has been successfully configured to operate in themulti-carrier mode.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprisingretransmitting the switch command message if the switch acknowledgementmessage is not received within a predetermined time after transmittingthe switch command message.
 10. A method for managing communications ina communication system, the method comprising: receiving a capabilitiesmessage from an access terminal indicating whether the access terminalis capable of multi-carrier communication; and transmitting a switchcommand message to the access terminal when the capabilities messageindicates that the access terminal is capable of multi-carriercommunication, the switch command message instructing the accessterminal to switch between a receive diversity mode where each antennamodule of a plurality of antenna modules receives a single carriersignal transmitted at a single carrier frequency and a multi-carriermode where a first antenna module of the plurality of antenna modulesreceives a first multi-carrier signal transmitted at a first carrierfrequency and a second antenna module receives a second multi-carriersignal transmitted at a second carrier frequency, wherein the switchcommand message is a receive diversity (RXDIV) switch command messagecomprising a RXDIV switch indicator instructing the access terminal toswitch to the receive diversity mode, wherein the RXDIV switch commandmessage further comprises a single carrier channel indicator assigning asingle carrier channel to the access terminal, and wherein the RXDIVswitch command message is a modified Packet Downlink Assignment messagein accordance with a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM)Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN)standard protocol.
 11. An access terminal comprising: a transmitter thattransmits a capabilities message to a base station indicating that theaccess terminal is capable of multi-carrier communication; and areceiver that receives a switch command message from the base stationinstructing the access terminal to switch between a receive diversitymode where each antenna module of a plurality of antenna modulesreceives a single carrier signal transmitted at a single carrierfrequency and a multi-carrier mode where a first antenna module of theplurality of antenna modules receives a first multi-carrier signaltransmitted at a first carrier frequency and a second antenna modulereceives a second multi-carrier signal transmitted at a second carrierfrequency, wherein the switch command message is a receive diversity(RXDIV) switch command message comprising a RXDIV switch indicatorinstructing the access terminal to switch to the receive diversity mode,wherein the RXDIV switch command message further comprises a singlecarrier channel indicator assigning a single carrier channel to theaccess terminal, and wherein the RXDIV switch command message is amodified Packet Downlink Assignment message in accordance with a GlobalSystem for Mobile Communication (GSM) Enhanced Data for Global Evolution(EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN) standard protocol.
 12. The accessterminal of claim 11, wherein the transmitter transmits a switchacknowledgement message to the base station indicating that the accessterminal has switched to the receive diversity mode.
 13. An accessterminal comprising: a transmitter that transmits a capabilities messageto a base station indicating that the access terminal is capable ofmulti-carrier communication; and a receiver that receives a switchcommand message from the base station instructing the access terminal toswitch between a diversity mode where each antenna module of a pluralityof antenna modules receives a single carrier signal transmitted at asingle carrier frequency and a multi-carrier mode where a first antennamodule of the plurality of antenna modules receives a firstmulti-carrier signal transmitted at a first carrier frequency and asecond antenna module receives a second multi-carrier signal transmittedat a second carrier frequency, wherein the switch command message is amulti-carrier switch command message comprising a multi-carrier switchindicator instructing the access terminal to switch to the multi-carriermode, wherein the multi-carrier switch command message further comprisesa multi-carrier channel indicator assigning channels to the accessterminal, and wherein the multi-carrier switch command message is amodified Packet Downlink Assignment message in accordance with a GlobalSystem for Mobile Communication (GSM) Enhanced Data for Global Evolution(EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN) standard protocol.
 14. The accessterminal of claim 13, wherein the transmitter transmits a switchacknowledgment message to the base station indicating that the accessterminal has been successfully configured to operate in themulti-carrier mode.
 15. A method for managing communications in acommunication system, the method comprising: transmitting a capabilitiesmessage to a base station indicating that an access terminal is capableof multi-carrier communication; and receiving a switch command messagefrom the base station instructing the access terminal to switch betweena receive diversity mode where each antenna module of a plurality ofantenna modules receives a single carrier signal transmitted at a singlecarrier frequency and a multi-carrier mode where a first antenna moduleof the plurality of antenna modules receives a first multi-carriersignal transmitted at a first carrier frequency and a second antennamodule receives a second multi-carrier signal transmitted at a secondcarrier frequency, wherein the switch command message is a receivediversity (RXDIV) switch command message comprising a RXDIV switchindicator instructing the access terminal to switch to the receivediversity mode, wherein the RXDIV switch command message furthercomprises a single carrier channel indicator assigning a single carrierchannel to the access terminal, and wherein the RXDIV switch commandmessage is a modified Packet Downlink Assignment message in accordancewith a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) Enhanced Data forGlobal Evolution (EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN) standard protocol.16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: transmitting a switchacknowledgement message to the base station indicating that the accessterminal has switched to the receive diversity mode.
 17. A method formanaging communications in a communication system, the methodcomprising: transmitting a capabilities message to a base stationindicating that an access terminal is capable of multi-carriercommunication; and receiving a switch command message from the basestation instructing the access terminal to switch between a diversitymode where each antenna module of a plurality of antenna modulesreceives a single carrier signal transmitted at a single carrierfrequency and a multi-carrier mode where a first antenna module of theplurality of antenna modules receives a first multi-carrier signaltransmitted at a first carrier frequency and a second antenna modulereceives a second multi-carrier signal transmitted at a second carrierfrequency, wherein the switch command message is a multi-carrier switchcommand message comprising a multi-carrier switch indicator instructingthe access terminal to switch to the multi-carrier mode, wherein themulti-carrier switch command message further comprises a multi-carrierchannel indicator assigning channels to the access terminal, and whereinthe multi-carrier switch command message is a modified Packet DownlinkAssignment message in accordance with a Global System for MobileCommunication (GSM) Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE) RadioAccess Network (GERAN) standard protocol.
 18. The method of claim 17,further comprising: transmitting a switch acknowledgment message to thebase station indicating that the access terminal has been successfullyconfigured to operate in the multi-carrier mode.
 19. A non-transitorycomputer storage medium storing a computer program, wherein execution ofthe computer program is for: transmitting a capabilities message to abase station indicating that an access terminal is capable ofmulti-carrier communication; and receiving a switch command message fromthe base station instructing the access terminal to switch between areceive diversity mode where each antenna module of a plurality ofantenna modules receives a single carrier signal transmitted at a singlecarrier frequency and a multi-carrier mode where a first antenna moduleof the plurality of antenna modules receives a first multi-carriersignal transmitted at a first carrier frequency and a second antennamodule receives a second multi-carrier signal transmitted at a secondcarrier frequency, wherein the switch command message is a receivediversity (RXDIV) switch command message comprising a RXDIV switchindicator instructing the access terminal to switch to the receivediversity mode, wherein the RXDIV switch command message furthercomprises a single carrier channel indicator assigning a single carrierchannel to the access terminal, and wherein the RXDIV switch commandmessage is a modified Packet Downlink Assignment message in accordancewith a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) Enhanced Data forGlobal Evolution (EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN) standard protocol.20. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 19 whereinexecution of the computer program is also for transmitting a switchacknowledgement message to the base station indicating that the accessterminal has switched to the receive diversity mode.
 21. Anon-transitory computer storage medium storing a computer program,wherein execution of the computer program is for: transmitting acapabilities message to a base station indicating that an accessterminal is capable of multi-carrier communication; and receiving aswitch command message from the base station instructing the accessterminal to switch between a diversity mode where each antenna module ofa plurality of antenna modules receives a single carrier signaltransmitted at a single carrier frequency and a multi-carrier mode wherea first antenna module of the plurality of antenna modules receives afirst multi-carrier signal transmitted at a first carrier frequency anda second antenna module receives a second multi-carrier signaltransmitted at a second carrier frequency, wherein the switch commandmessage is a multi-carrier switch command message comprising amulti-carrier switch indicator instructing the access terminal to switchto the multi-carrier mode, wherein the multi-carrier switch commandmessage further comprises a multi-carrier channel indicator assigningchannels to the access terminal, and wherein the multi-carrier switchcommand message is a modified Packet Downlink Assignment message inaccordance with a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) EnhancedData for Global Evolution (EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN) standardprotocol.
 22. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 21wherein execution of the computer program is also for transmitting aswitch acknowledgment message to the base station indicating that theaccess terminal has been successfully configured to operate in themulti-carrier mode.
 23. An apparatus for managing communications in acommunication system, the apparatus comprising: means for transmitting acapabilities message to a base station indicating that an accessterminal is capable of multi-carrier communication; and means forreceiving a switch command message from the base station instructing theaccess terminal to switch between a receive diversity mode where eachantenna module of a plurality of antenna modules receives a singlecarrier signal transmitted at a single carrier frequency and amulti-carrier mode where a first antenna module of the plurality ofantenna modules receives a first multi-carrier signal transmitted at afirst carrier frequency and a second antenna module receives a secondmulti-carrier signal transmitted at a second carrier frequency, whereinthe switch command message is a receive diversity (RXDIV) switch commandmessage comprising a RXDIV switch indicator instructing the accessterminal to switch to the receive diversity mode, wherein the RXDIVswitch command message further comprises a single carrier channelindicator assigning a single carrier channel to the access terminal, andwherein the RXDIV switch command message is a modified Packet DownlinkAssignment message in accordance with a Global System for MobileCommunication (GSM) Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE) RadioAccess Network (GERAN) standard protocol.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23,further comprising means for transmitting a switch acknowledgementmessage to the base station indicating that the access terminal hasswitched to the receive diversity mode.
 25. An apparatus for managingcommunications in a communication system, the apparatus comprising:means for transmitting a capabilities message to a base stationindicating that an access terminal is capable of multi-carriercommunication; and means for receiving a switch command message from thebase station instructing the access terminal to switch between adiversity mode where each antenna module of a plurality of antennamodules receives a single carrier signal transmitted at a single carrierfrequency and a multi-carrier mode where a first antenna module of theplurality of antenna modules receives a first multi-carrier signaltransmitted at a first carrier frequency and a second antenna modulereceives a second multi-carrier signal transmitted at a second carrierfrequency, wherein the switch command message is a multi-carrier switchcommand message comprising a multi-carrier switch indicator instructingthe access terminal to switch to the multi-carrier mode, wherein themulti-carrier switch command message further comprises a multi-carrierchannel indicator assigning channels to the access terminal, and whereinthe multi-carrier switch command message is a modified Packet DownlinkAssignment message in accordance with a Global System for MobileCommunication (GSM) Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE) RadioAccess Network (GERAN) standard protocol.
 26. The apparatus of claim 25,further comprising means for transmitting a switch acknowledgmentmessage to the base station indicating that the access terminal has beensuccessfully configured to operate in the multi-carrier mode.
 27. Anon-transitory computer storage medium storing a computer program,wherein execution of the computer program is for: receiving acapabilities message from an access terminal indicating whether theaccess terminal is capable of multi-carrier communication; andtransmitting a switch command message to the access terminal if thecapabilities message indicates that the access terminal is capable ofmulti-carrier communication, the switch command message instructing theaccess terminal to switch between a diversity mode where each antennamodule of a plurality of antenna modules receives a single carriersignal transmitted at a single carrier frequency and a multi-carriermode where a first antenna module of the plurality of antenna modulesreceives a first multi-carrier signal transmitted at a first carrierfrequency and a second antenna module receives a second multi-carriersignal transmitted at a second carrier frequency, wherein the switchcommand message is a multi-carrier switch command message comprising amulti-carrier switch indicator instructing the access terminal to switchto the multi-carrier mode, wherein the multi-carrier switch commandmessage further comprises a multi- carrier channel indicator assigningchannels to the access terminal, and wherein the multi-carrier switchcommand message is a modified Packet Downlink Assignment message inaccordance with a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) EnhancedData for Global Evolution (EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN) standardprotocol.
 28. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 27wherein execution of the computer program is also for receiving a switchacknowledgment message indicating the access terminal has beensuccessfully configured to operate in the multi-carrier mode.
 29. Thenon-transitory computer storage medium of claim 28 wherein execution ofthe computer program is also for retransmitting the switch commandmessage if the switch acknowledgement message is not received within apredetermined time after transmitting the switch command message.
 30. Anapparatus for managing communications in a communication system, theapparatus comprising: means for receiving a capabilities message from anaccess terminal indicating whether the access terminal is capable ofmulti-carrier communication; and means for transmitting a switch commandmessage to the access terminal if the capabilities message indicatesthat the access terminal is capable of multi-carrier communication, theswitch command message instructing the access terminal to switch betweena diversity mode where each antenna module of a plurality of antennamodules receives a single carrier signal transmitted at a single carrierfrequency and a multi-carrier mode where a first antenna module of theplurality of antenna modules receives a first multi-carrier signaltransmitted at a first carrier frequency and a second antenna modulereceives a second multi-carrier signal transmitted at a second carrierfrequency, wherein the switch command message is a multi-carrier switchcommand message comprising a multi-carrier switch indicator instructingthe access terminal to switch to the multi-carrier mode, wherein themulti-carrier switch command message further comprises a multi-carrierchannel indicator assigning channels to the access terminal, and whereinthe multi-carrier switch command message is a modified Packet DownlinkAssignment message in accordance with a Global System for MobileCommunication (GSM) Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE) RadioAccess Network (GERAN) standard protocol.
 31. The apparatus of claim 30,further comprising means for receiving a switch acknowledgment messageindicating the access terminal has been successfully configured tooperate in the multi-carrier mode.
 32. The apparatus of claim 31,further comprising means for retransmitting the switch command messageif the switch acknowledgement message is not received within apredetermined time after transmitting the switch command message.
 33. Anon-transitory computer storage medium storing a computer program,wherein execution of the computer program is for: receiving acapabilities message from an access terminal indicating whether theaccess terminal is capable of multi-carrier communication; andtransmitting a switch command message to the access terminal if thecapabilities message indicates that the access terminal is capable ofmulti-carrier communication, the switch command message instructing theaccess terminal to switch between a receive diversity mode where eachantenna module of a plurality of antenna modules receives a singlecarrier signal transmitted at a single carrier frequency and amulti-carrier mode where a first antenna module of the plurality ofantenna modules receives a first multi-carrier signal transmitted at afirst carrier frequency and a second antenna module receives a secondmulti-carrier signal transmitted at a second carrier frequency, whereinthe switch command message is a receive diversity (RXDIV) switch commandmessage comprising a RXDIV switch indicator instructing the accessterminal to switch to the receive diversity mode, wherein the RXDIVswitch command message further comprises a single carrier channelindicator assigning a single carrier channel to the access terminal, andwherein the RXDIV switch command message is a modified Packet DownlinkAssignment message in accordance with a Global System for MobileCommunication (GSM) Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE) RadioAccess Network (GERAN) standard protocol.
 34. The non-transitorycomputer storage medium of claim 33 wherein execution of the computerprogram is also for receiving a switch acknowledgement message from theaccess terminal indicating that the access terminal has switched to thereceive diversity mode.
 35. The non-transitory computer storage mediumof claim 34 wherein execution of the computer program is also forretransmitting the switch command message if the switch acknowledgementmessage is not received within a predetermined time after transmittingthe switch command message.
 36. An apparatus for managing communicationsin a communication system, the apparatus comprising: means for receivinga capabilities message from an access terminal indicating whether theaccess terminal is capable of multi-carrier communication; and means fortransmitting a switch command message to the access terminal if thecapabilities message indicates that the access terminal is capable ofmulti-carrier communication, the switch command message instructing theaccess terminal to switch between a receive diversity mode where eachantenna module of a plurality of antenna modules receives a singlecarrier signal transmitted at a single carrier frequency and amulti-carrier mode where a first antenna module of the plurality ofantenna modules receives a first multi-carrier signal transmitted at afirst carrier frequency and a second antenna module receives a secondmulti-carrier signal transmitted at a second carrier frequency, whereinthe switch command message is a receive diversity (RXDIV) switch commandmessage comprising a RXDIV switch indicator instructing the accessterminal to switch to the receive diversity mode, wherein the RXDIVswitch command message further comprises a single carrier channelindicator assigning a single carrier channel to the access terminal, andwherein the RXDIV switch command message is a modified Packet DownlinkAssignment message in accordance with a Global System for MobileCommunication (GSM) Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE) RadioAccess Network (GERAN) standard protocol.
 37. The apparatus of claim 36,further comprising means for receiving a switch acknowledgement messagefrom the access terminal indicating that the access terminal hasswitched to the receive diversity mode.
 38. The apparatus of claim 37,further comprising means for retransmitting the switch command messageif the switch acknowledgement message is not received within apredetermined time after transmitting the switch command message.